Mangaluru Police Seize ₹75 Crore Worth MDMA from South African Women

Mangaluru police arrested two South African women, seizing 37.878 kg of MDMA worth ₹75 crore. This is the largest drug bust by Karnataka police to date. The arrests follow investigations of a drug trafficking network linked to prior arrests. Police suspect the women have been delivering MDMA regularly between India and South Africa.

The Mangaluru police apprehended two South African women, seizing 37.878 kg of MDMA valued at ₹75 crore during their investigation into a drug trafficking case. This marks the largest cache of drugs confiscated by Karnataka police to date, according to Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal. The women, identified as Bamba Fanta and Abigail Adonis, were caught after traveling from Delhi to Bengaluru on a domestic flight.

The arrests stemmed from earlier investigations related to Hyder Ali, a drug peddler arrested in 2024 with a small quantity of MDMA. Follow-up investigations led to the arrest of another suspect, Peter Ikedi Belonwu, who held 6.248 kg of the drug. Information from Belonwu revealed details about the two South African women smuggling MDMA into Bengaluru and delivering it to local dealers.

The successful apprehension of the two women underscores the significant efforts of the Central Crime Branch in combating drug trafficking. Their operation involved a network that had reportedly been active for over 18 months, highlighting the ongoing challenges of monitoring airport security and the illicit drug trade. The collaboration with the Narcotic Control Bureau is expected to yield further insights into the broader drug syndicate.

Original Source: www.thehindu.com